Comparative Table
(Two-Column Table)

A comparative table is a two-column table used to indicate changes between current and proposed Calendar sections.  Other formats for indicating changes, such as track changes or spreadsheets, were tested during 2020-2021.  However, consensus between governance committees and faculties is that the comparative table is the preferred format.

A comparative table will not provide all of the information needed to get approval through university governance.  The comparative table is normally embedded within a full approval document, such as the change forms found in this Calendar Guide.

Current Calendar content is included in the left column.  Proposed content is included in the right column.   When creating a comparative table, it is essential that you use formatting conventions outlined below to ensure that there is consistency between proposals when they are being reviewed by governance committees. 

Sample of Comparative Table for Calendar Admission Change

To create a comparative table:

1. Find Calendar text for your comparative table from the most recent copy of the section you are changing.

   1. • In most cases, the most recent copy will be found in the published Calendar at calendar.ualberta.ca.  However, if you've already proposed changes to this section since the Calendar was published, your most recent copy will either be in the approved motions or in the draft Calendar, depending on when the draft was last updated.

      • Select and copy the relevant text. You may choose to use ellipses […] to indicate a break in text where no changes occur. It may be valuable to include more rather than less text to provide context for the committees or individuals reviewing your submission.

      • Paste the text into the left-hand column of a two-column comparative table.

2. Indicate changes on the right and left hand columns of your comparative table.

   1. • Indicate your deletions in the left column and your additions in the right column.

      • To indicate deletions or changes in the left column, highlight and strike through text.

      • To indicate additions or changes in the right column, highlight and underline the new text.

      • If text is moving between sections on the same page, but not changing in content, you could indicate this using a second highlighting color and a editorial instructional note in square brackets. (e.g. [this section is being moved beneath Academic Standing])

      • Indicate renumbering by crossing out (1) in left column and underlining (2) in the right column.

      • Do not use bold text to indicate changes (unless you are indicating a format change to bold).

      • IMPORTANT: changes not indicated using highlighting, strikethrough or underline will not be reflected in the Calendar.

3. Line up changes in your two-column table.

   1. • The information in the left column should line up with the information in the right column.  This may result in large gaps in one column or the other if large sections of text have been deleted, added, or moved.